Pregnancy monitoring devices, systems, and related methods

ABSTRACT

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to devices, systems, and methods for monitoring pregnancy of a female pregnant subject. For example, a pregnancy monitoring system can detect movement or motion of a pregnant subject and/or of the fetus in the pregnant subject. Additionally or alternatively, the pregnancy monitoring system can detect internal and/or external source loads applied to the pregnant subject. In an embodiment, the pregnancy monitoring system can compare and/or correlate two or more loads, one to another (e.g., to produce an output that is at least partially based on such comparison and that is related to the wellbeing of the pregnant subject and/or of the fetus). For example, the pregnancy monitoring system can include a controller that is configured to determine and compare two or more loads based on signals received from one or more sensors that can be positioned on the pregnant subject.

If an Application Data Sheet (ADS) has been filed on the filing date ofthis application, it is incorporated by reference herein. Anyapplications claimed on the ADS for priority under 35 U.S.C. §§ 119,sensors 120, 121, or 365(c), and any and all parent, grandparent,great-grandparent, etc. applications of such applications, are alsoincorporated by reference, including any priority claims made in thoseapplications and any material incorporated by reference, to the extentsuch subject matter is not inconsistent herewith.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of the earliest availableeffective filing date(s) from the following listed application(s) (the“Priority Applications”), if any, listed below (e.g., claims earliestavailable priority dates for other than provisional patent applicationsor claims benefits under 35 USC § 119(e) for provisional patentapplications, for any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent,etc. applications of the Priority Application(s)).

PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

The present application constitutes a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/936,800, entitled PREGNANCY MONITORING DEVICES,SYSTEMS, AND RELATED METHODS, naming Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare,and Lowell L. Wood, Jr. as inventors, filed 10, Nov. 2015, which iscurrently co-pending or is an application of which a currentlyco-pending application is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.

The present application constitutes a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/936,818, entitled PREGNANCY MONITORING DEVICES,SYSTEMS, AND RELATED METHODS, naming Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare,and Lowell L. Wood, Jr. as inventors, filed 10, Nov. 2015, which iscurrently co-pending or is an application of which a currentlyco-pending application is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.

The present application constitutes a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/936,828, entitled PREGNANCY MONITORING DEVICES,SYSTEMS, AND RELATED METHODS, naming Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare,and Lowell L. Wood, Jr. as inventors, filed 10, Nov. 2015, which iscurrently co-pending or is an application of which a currentlyco-pending application is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.

If the listings of applications provided above are inconsistent with thelistings provided via an ADS, it is the intent of the Applicant to claimpriority to each application that appears in the DomesticBenefit/National Stage Information section of the ADS and to eachapplication that appears in the Priority Applications section of thisapplication.

All subject matter of the Priority Applications and of any and allapplications related to the Priority Applications by priority claims(directly or indirectly), including any priority claims made and subjectmatter incorporated by reference therein as of the filing date of theinstant application, is incorporated herein by reference to the extentsuch subject matter is not inconsistent herewith.

BACKGROUND

Monitoring a state of a pregnant woman and/or of a fetus of the pregnantwoman can help prevent or eliminate health risks associated withpregnancy and/or can have health benefits for the newborn and/or for themother after the delivery. For example, periodic ultrasound check-upscan provide information about health conditions of the fetus and/or ofthe mother that can be treated and/or ameliorated by interventionaltherapy that can lead to improved health outcomes for the mother and/orfor the newborn after delivery.

Therefore, manufactures, health care providers, and pregnant subjectscontinue to seek improved devices, systems, and methods for pregnancymonitoring.

SUMMARY

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to devices, systems, andmethods for monitoring pregnancy of a female pregnant subject (e.g., amammalian female, such as a human female). For example, a pregnancymonitoring system can detect movement or motion of a pregnant subjectand/or of a fetus in the pregnant subject. Additionally oralternatively, the pregnancy monitoring system can detect internaland/or external source loads applied to and/or experienced by thepregnant subject. In an embodiment, the pregnancy monitoring system cancompare and/or correlate two or more loads, one to another (e.g., toproduce an output that is at least partially based on such a comparisonand that is related to the wellbeing of the pregnant subject and/or ofthe fetus). For example, the pregnancy monitoring system can include acontroller that is configured to determine and compare two or more loadsbased on signals received from one or more sensors that can bepositioned on the pregnant subject.

Embodiments include a system for monitoring a pregnant subject. Thesystem includes one or more sensors configured to generate one or moresignals related to at least an external source load applied to thepregnant subject and to motion of the pregnant subject. The system alsoincludes a controller, which includes control electrical circuitryoperably coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to receivethe one or more signals therefrom. The control electrical circuitry isconfigured to distinguish motion of the pregnant subject from theexternal source load based at least partially on the one or more signalsreceived from the one or more sensors and to generate an output relatedto one or more of the external source load or the motion of the pregnantsubject.

Embodiments also include a wearable system for monitoring a pregnantsubject. The wearable system includes one or more wearable elementssized and configured to be worn by the pregnant subject. The wearablesystem also includes one or more sensors configured to generate one ormore signals related to at least an external source load applied to thepregnant subject and to motion of the pregnant subject. At least one ofthe one or more sensors is carried by the one or more wearable elements.The wearable system includes a controller, which includes controlelectrical circuitry operably coupled to the one or more sensors andconfigured to receive the one or more signals therefrom. The controlelectrical circuitry is configured to distinguish motion of the pregnantsubject from the external source load based at least partially on theone or more signals received from the one or more sensors and togenerate an output related to one or more of the external source load orthe motion of the pregnant subject.

One or more embodiments include a method of monitoring a pregnantsubject. The method includes, at a controller, receiving one or moresignals from one or more sensors related to at least an external sourceload applied to the pregnant subject and to motion of the pregnantsubject. The method also includes, at the controller, distinguishingmotion of the pregnant subject from the external source load applied tothe pregnant subject based at least partially on the signals receivedfrom the one or more sensors. The method further includes, at thecontroller, determining at least the external source load applied to thesubject at least partially based on the one or more signals from one ormore sensors. The method additionally includes generating an outputrelated to at least one of the external source load or the internalsource load.

At least one embodiment includes a system for monitoring a pregnantsubject. The system includes one or more sensors configured to generateone or more signals related to at least an external source load appliedto the pregnant subject. The system further includes a controller, whichincludes control electrical circuitry operably coupled to the one ormore sensors and configured to receive the one or more signalstherefrom. The control electrical circuitry is configured to determine adirection of the external source load at least partially based on theone or more signals received from the one or more sensors and togenerate an output related to the direction of the external source load.

At least one embodiment includes a wearable system for monitoring apregnant subject. The system includes one or more wearable elementssized and configured to be worn by the pregnant subject, and one or moresensors configured to generate one or more signals related to at leastan external source load applied to the pregnant subject. At least one ofthe one or more sensors is carried by the one or more wearable elements.The wearable system also includes a controller, which includes controlelectrical circuitry operably coupled to the one or more sensors andconfigured to receive the one or more signals therefrom. The controlelectrical circuitry is configured to determine a direction of theexternal source load at least partially based on the one or more signalsreceived from the one or more sensors and to generate an output relatedto the direction of the external source load.

Embodiments also include a method of monitoring a pregnant subject. Themethod includes, at a controller, receiving one or more signals from oneor more sensors related to at least one of an external source load or aninternal source load applied to the pregnant subject. The methodincludes, at the controller, determining a direction of the externalsource load at least partially based on the one or more signals receivedfrom the one or more sensors. Additionally, the method includesgenerating an output related to at least one of the direction of theexternal source load or the direction of the internal source load.

At least one embodiment includes a system for monitoring a pregnantsubject. The system includes one or more sensors configured to generateone or more signals related to at least one of an internal source loador an external source load applied to the pregnant subject. The systemfurther includes a controller including control electrical circuitryoperably coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to receivethe one or more signals therefrom. The control electrical circuitry isconfigured to compare one of the internal source load or the externalsource load to the other of the internal source load or the externalsource load and to generate an output related to at least one of theinternal source load or the external source load at least partiallybased on the one or more signals received from the one or more sensors.

Embodiments also include a wearable system for monitoring a pregnantsubject. The wearable system includes one or more wearable elementssized and configured to be worn by the pregnant subject. The wearablesystem also includes one or more sensors configured to generate one ormore signals related to at least one of an internal source load or anexternal source load applied to the pregnant subject. At least one ofthe one or more sensors is carried by the one or more wearable elements.The wearable system also includes a controller including controlelectrical circuitry operably coupled to the one or more sensors andconfigured to receive the one or more signals therefrom. The controlelectrical circuitry is configured to compare one of the internal sourceload or the external source load to the other of the internal sourceload or the external source load and to generate an output related to atleast one of the internal source load or the external source load atleast partially based on the one or more signals received from the oneor more sensors.

At least one embodiment includes a method of monitoring a pregnantsubject. The method includes, at a controller, receiving one or moresignals from one or more sensors that detect one or more forcesassociated with at least one of an internal source load or an externalsource load applied to the pregnant subject. Moreover, the methodincludes, at the controller, determining at least one of the internalsource load or the external source load based at least partially on theone or more signals received from the one or more sensors. The methodfurther includes, at the controller, comparing the internal source loadwith the external source load. Additionally, the method includesgenerating an output related to at least one of the external source loador the internal source load.

Features from any of the disclosed embodiments can be used incombination with one another, without limitation. In addition, otherfeatures and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparentto those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of thefollowing detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be inany way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments,and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and featureswill become apparent by reference to the drawings and the followingdetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a pregnant subject;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a pregnancy monitoring systemaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a stacked sensor assembly attachedto a backing according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4A is a schematic illustration of a sensor arrangement for apregnancy monitoring system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4B is a schematic illustration of a sensor arrangement for apregnancy monitoring system according to another embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a pregnancy monitoring systemaccording to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to devices, systems, andmethods for monitoring pregnancy of a female pregnant subject (e.g., amammalian female, such as a human female). For example, a pregnancymonitoring system can detect movement or motion of a pregnant subjectand/or of the fetus in the pregnant subject. Additionally oralternatively, the pregnancy monitoring system can detect internaland/or external source loads applied to and/or experienced by thepregnant subject. In an embodiment, the pregnancy monitoring system cancompare and/or correlate two or more loads, one to another (e.g., toproduce an output that is at least partially based on such a comparisonand that is related to the wellbeing of the pregnant subject and/or ofthe fetus). For example, the pregnancy monitoring system can include acontroller that is configured to determine and compare two or more loadsbased on signals received from one or more sensors that can bepositioned on the pregnant subject.

In an embodiment, the controller (e.g., control electrical circuitry ofthe controller) of the pregnancy monitoring system can compare at leastone internal source load to at least one external source load (e.g.,compare a load imparted onto the pregnant subject by the fetus to a loadimparted onto the exterior of the pregnant subject). For example, thecontroller can relate the external source load, such as a force orimpact applied to the pregnant subject to one or more portions of thefetus inside the pregnant subject impacted by the force. For example,the control electrical circuitry of the controller can correlate one ormore of internal or external source load(s) to a position and/ororientation of the fetus in the pregnant subject, which can be at leastpartially determined based on internal source loads determined by thecontrol electrical circuitry of the controller.

In an embodiment, the control electrical circuitry of the controller ofthe pregnancy monitoring system can determine vector values (e.g.,direction and/or magnitude) of the internal and/or external source loadsat least partially based on the signals received from one or moresensors. For example, the control electrical circuitry of the controllercan determine a direction of the internal and/or external source loadsat least partially by comparing signals received from the sensor(s)and/or information related to the signal(s) (e.g., timing of thereceived signal(s)). In an embodiment, the controller can compare a timedifference between receiving a first signal (or signals) from a firstsensor (or a group of sensors) and a second signal (or signals) from asecond sensor (or a second group of sensors). Additionally oralternatively, the control electrical circuitry of the controller cancompare the time difference between detecting a change in the firstsignal from the first sensor and detecting a change in the second signalfrom second sensor. In any event, in an embodiment, the controlelectrical circuitry of the controller can determine the direction ofthe load at least partially based on the propagation and detection ofthe load across multiple sensors.

In an embodiment, the control electrical circuitry of the controller candetermine movement of the pregnant subject and/or of the fetus in thepregnant subject. For example, the control electrical circuitry of thecontroller can determine an amount (e.g., rate) and/or an intensity(e.g., force(s) applied to the pregnant subject) of movement of thefetus at least partially based on the signals received from thesensor(s), which can be related to the internal source loads detected bythe sensor(s). For example, the control electrical circuitry of thecontroller can determine one or more of speed of movement, type ofmovement (e.g., the fetus turning, kicking, etc., the pregnant subjectwalking, running, swaying, swimming, etc.), the duration of movement, orcombinations of the foregoing. The control electrical circuitry of thecontroller also can determine a type (e.g., walking, running, driving,etc.) and/or an amount of movement (e.g., speed, quantity of movementper unit time, such as miles per day) for the pregnant subject.Furthermore, the control electrical circuitry of the controller cancompare and/or correlate the movement or motion of the pregnant subjectto the movement or motion of the fetus inside the pregnant subject.

In an embodiment, the controller can determine or identify an externalsource load that exceeds a threshold value. For example, the controllercan determine that the pregnant subject experienced an impact or anexternal source load imparted onto the pregnant subject exceeded athreshold value (e.g., threshold magnitude, location of impact,direction of impact, or combinations thereof). In an embodiment, thecontroller can generate an output related to the external source loadthat exceeded the threshold value. Furthermore, the generated output canbe displayed to a user (e.g., to the pregnant subject) on a suitabledisplay, as described below in more detail.

In an embodiment, the controller can output one or more recommendationsrelated to the determined amount and/or type of movement for thepregnant subject and/or of the fetus. Moreover, in an embodiment, thecontrol electrical circuitry of the controller can compare the amount ofmovement at a first time (or first time period) to the amount ofmovement at the second time (or second time period). For example, thecontrol electrical circuitry of the controller can compare the amount ofmovement of the fetus inside the pregnant subject before detection ordetermination of the external source load that exceeded a thresholdvalue to the amount of movement of the fetus thereafter (e.g., averageamount of movement calculated over a selected period of time).

In an embodiment, the pregnancy monitoring system can include one ormore sensors that can be worn by and/or attached to the pregnantsubject. For example, one or more sensors can be attached or adhered tothe skin of the pregnant subject (e.g., directly to the skin of thepregnant subject), such as to detect internal and/or external sourceloads applied to the subject. Additionally or alternatively, one or moresensors can be attached to or integrated into a garment that can be wornby the pregnant subject in a manner that the one or more sensors candetect the internal and/or external source loads applied to the pregnantsubject.

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in thedetailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting.Other embodiments can be utilized, and other changes can be made,without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matterpresented here.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a pregnant subject 10. Inparticular, a fetus 20 is shown inside the pregnant subject 10. Itshould be appreciated that the fetus 20 can have any number oforientations in a uterus of the pregnant subject 10, for example,depending on the stage of the pregnancy of the pregnant subject 10.Moreover, the fetus 20 can exhibit various movements or motion of thefetus can vary in the pregnant subject 10, while the fetus remainsgenerally in the same orientation inside the uterus of the pregnantsubject 10. As described below in more detail, a pregnancy monitoringsystem according to one or more embodiments disclosed herein can monitorthe motion of the pregnant subject 10 and/or of the fetus 20, such as bymonitoring the internal and/or external source loads applied to thepregnant subject 10 and/or by the fetus (e.g., loads that can beimparted onto the pregnant subject 10 by the fetus 20 and/or loadsapplied to the pregnant subject 10 and by the fetus 20, which originatefrom or are imparted by external environment). It should be appreciatedthat, while the pregnant subject 10 is illustrated with a single fetus20, the pregnant subjects described herein can have any number offetuses therein.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a pregnancy monitoring system 100according to an embodiment. The pregnancy monitoring system 100 includesa controller 110 and one or more sensors 120 (e.g., sensors 120 a, 120b) operably coupled to the controller 110. The sensors 120 can bearranged in a sensor arrangement and/or a sensor array, as discussedbelow in more detail. Moreover, the sensors 120 can be positioned on thepregnant subject to detect internal and/or external source loads. In anembodiment, the sensors 120 can include any number of sensors and/or anynumber of different types of sensors, such as accelerometers, strainsensors, gyroscopes, etc., as described below in more detail. Forexample, the sensors 120 can be configured to generate one or moresignals that can be related to an external source load and/or aninternal source load experience by pregnant subject.

The controller 110 can receive and/or send signals to the sensors 120.For example, the controller 110 can receive signals from the sensors120, which can correspond to the internal and/or external source loadsdetected by the sensors 120. The controller 110 can receive signals fromthe sensors 120 that can be related to the movement, position,orientation, or combinations thereof of the pregnant subject or thefetus therein. The controller 110 can process the signals received fromthe sensors 120 and can generate output related thereto. In anembodiment, the controller 110 can be operably coupled to and/or caninclude one or more output devices, such as an output device 105, suchthat at least some of the output generated at the controller 110 can beoutput or displayed on the output device. For example, the output device105 can be a visual display (e.g., an LCD display, an OLED display, CRTdisplay, LED display, such as having one or more discrete lightingelements, etc.). Additionally or alternatively, the output device 105can be and/or can include a sound emitting device, such as a speaker, atactile device, such as a device configured to vibrate (e.g., a deviceincluding a mass that can be moved in a manner that vibrates the device,such as by a changing magnetic field, a motor, etc.). Additionally oralternatively, the output device 105 can be and/or can include awireless transmitter, configured to transmit the output to an externalreceiver (e.g., a cell phone, a cellular base station, a computer, awifi hub, etc.).

Generally the controller 110 can include control electrical circuitrythat can be configured and/or programmed to perform one or more actsdescribed herein. In the illustrated embodiment, the controller 110includes control electrical circuitry 115 that includes an I/O interface130, a processing unit 140, a storage memory 150, which can be operablycoupled together. For example, the controller 110 can receive signalsfrom the sensors 120 at the I/O interface 130 of the control electricalcircuitry 115. In some embodiments, the control electrical circuitry 115of the controller 110 can include or can be operably coupled to one ormore A/D converters, which can convert analog signals received from thesensors 120 to digital signals that can be passed from the I/O interface130 to the processing unit 140 for processing. It should be appreciatedthat, in some embodiments, the sensors 120 can generate digital signalsthat can be received at the I/O interface 130 of the control electricalcircuitry 115 of the controller 110.

In an embodiment, the storage memory 150 can store data that is relatedto the signal(s) received from the sensors 120. For example, the storagememory 150 can store one or more values or magnitudes associated withthe signals received from the sensors 120 (e.g., values of or related tointernal and/or external source loads sensed or detected by the sensors120 and/or determined by the control electrical circuitry 115 of thecontroller 110). Additionally or alternatively, the storage memory 150can store date and/or time associated with the stored values and/orsignals received from the sensors 120. Moreover, the storage memory 150can include one or more databases, indices, lookup tables, combinationsthereof, and the like that can be accessed by the processing unit 140 toprocess signals received from the sensors 120, as described herein(e.g., the processing unit 140 can compare one or more values ofinternal and/or external source loads determined form the signalsreceived from the sensors 120 to one or more threshold values stored inthe storage memory 150). In an embodiment, the storage memory 150 caninclude a removable storage medium (e.g., a flash card, a DVD, etc.).

As described below in more detail, the controller 110 can send signalsor instructions to one, some, or each of the sensors 120. For example,at least one of the sensors 120 (e.g., pinging sensors 120) can generatea control or identification signal or ping that can be detected by oneor more other sensors 120, which can send corresponding signals to thecontroller 110. For example, the other sensors 120 (e.g., non-pingingsensors 120) can generate signals based on the detected ping oridentification signal(s) sensed from the pinging or signaling sensors120. At least partially based on the signals received from thenon-pinging sensors 120, the control electrical circuitry 115 of thecontroller 110 can determine the position(s) of the pinging sensor(s)120 relative to one or more other sensors 120 that have generated thesignal responsive to the ping of the pinging sensors 120.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 140 can include a processorincluding processing electrical circuitry. Additionally oralternatively, the processing unit 140 can include a memory (e.g.,random access memory (RAM), cache memory, etc.) operably coupled to theprocessor. For example, the processor can receive and execute or processinstructions and/or process data and generate an output, as describedherein. In an embodiment, the instructions can be stored in the randomaccess memory and/or in the storage memory 150. In an embodiment, theprocessing unit 140 can include one or more field programmable gatearrays (FPGAs), which can be configured to process data received fromthe I/O interface 130, according to the processes and steps or actdescribed herein.

In an embodiment, the control electrical circuitry 115 of the controller110 can distinguish the internal source loads from external source loadsbased at least partially on signals from the sensors 120. The controller110 can determine the direction of the load, such as load directed frominside the pregnant subject toward an outer environment, load directedfrom environment external to the pregnant subject toward the pregnantsubject, direction of the load relative to the pregnant subject, such asrelative to the torso the pregnant subject. The direction can includeone or more of a normal component substantially perpendicular to asurface of the pregnant subject (inwardly or outwardly directed), or alateral component substantially parallel to a surface of the pregnantsubject. For example, the control electrical circuitry 115 of thecontroller 110 can compare signals from two of the sensors 120 todetermine the direction of the load. Moreover, in a similar manner, thecontrol electrical circuitry 115 of the controller 110 can determine thelocation of the load or impact on the pregnant subject.

In an embodiment, two or more of the sensors 120 can be directionallypositioned relative to each other and/or relative to the skin of thepregnant subject (e.g., such that a first of the sensors 120 ispositioned closer to the skin, while a second of the sensors 120 ispositioned farther from the skin of the pregnant subject). For example,the first sensor of the sensors 120 can be positioned relative to thesecond sensor of the sensors 120 such that the external source load canbe detected by the second sensor before the first sensor and/or suchthat the internal source load can be detected by the first sensor beforethe second sensor. Hence, the controller 110 can determine ordistinguish the external source load from the internal source load basedon a time difference in receiving signals from the first and secondsensors of the sensors 120.

In an embodiment, the sensors 120 can substantially continuouslygenerate and/or transmit the generated signals that can be received atthe controller 110. In an embodiment, the control electrical circuitry115 of the controller 110 can distinguish the external source load frominternal source load by comparing the time difference between thesignals received from the first sensor and second sensor of the sensors120, where the signals are substantially the same. For example, thesignals received from the first sensor and from the second sensor can berepresented by a signal amplitude relative a time (e.g., as a sine waveor irregular wave). The control electrical circuitry 115 of thecontroller 110 can determine a time shift required to generally match orgenerally align the signals received from the first sensor to thesignals received from the second sensor, such that the amplitudes and/orthe signal shapes align with each other. For example, shifting a firstsignal from the first sensor forward relative to time to align with asecond signal from the second sensor can be correlated by the controlelectrical circuitry 115 of the controller 110 to an external sourceload. By contrast, shifting the first signal (from the first sensor)backward relative to time to align with the second signal from thesecond sensor can be correlated by the control electrical circuitry 115of the controller 110 to an internal source load.

In some embodiments, the controller 110 can include a filter (e.g.,digital and/or analog filter that can filter out at least somefrequencies of the signal(s) received from the sensors 120. For example,the sensors 120 can generate signals responsive to internal and/orexternal loads that may not be of interest to monitoring by thepregnancy monitoring system 100 (e.g., noise signals produced duringoperation of the sensors 120). The filter(s) can filter the noise, suchthat the processing unit 140 can process a filtered signal (e.g., todetermine or distinguish the internal and external source loads).Additionally or alternatively, the control electrical circuitry 115 ofthe controller 110 can compare a change in signal received from two ormore of the sensors 120. For example, the change in first signal (ΔS₁)from the first sensor, which exceeds a threshold value, can be comparedto a change in second signal (ΔS₂) from the second sensor, which exceedsthe threshold value. In particular, for example, the control electricalcircuitry 115 of the controller 110 can compare a time of receiving thefirst signal that represented or formed the basis of the ΔS₁ with a timeof receiving the second signal that represented or formed the basis ofthe ΔS₂ to determine or distinguish the internal source force from theexternal source force.

Additionally or alternatively, the sensors 120 can be positioned atdifferent locations on the body of the pregnant subject. For example, asdescribed below in more detail, the sensors 120 can be positioned aboutthe torso of the pregnant subject, about the abdomen of the pregnantsubject, about the waistline of the pregnant subject, or combinations ofthe foregoing. The control electrical circuitry 115 of the controller110 can compare the time a signal was received from the sensors 120 atdifferent locations or positions on the torso of the pregnant subject todetermine direction of the load and/or to distinguish the internal fromexternal source loads that correspond to the received signals.

For example, the control electrical circuitry 115 of the controller 110can compare the time a first signal is received from a sensor that islocated on or near the back of the pregnant subject to the time a secondsignal received from a sensor located on or near the front of thepregnant subject (e.g., on the abdomen of the pregnant subject) todetermine the direction of the load. The control electrical circuitry115 of the controller 110 can distinguish the load(s) directed generallyfrom the back toward the front from the load(s) directed generally fromthe front toward the back. The control electrical circuitry 115 of thecontroller 110 additionally or alternatively can compare the time ofreceiving a third signal from a sensor on the left side of the pregnantsubject to the time of receiving a fourth signal from a sensor on anopposite side (e.g., on the right side) of the pregnant subject todetermine or distinguish the direction of the load directed from theleft side toward the right side of the pregnant subject or vice versa.

Similarly, the control electrical circuitry 115 of the controller 110can distinguish or determine the direction of the load by comparing astrength of the signal. For example, the control electrical circuitry115 of the controller 110 can compare the strength of a first signalreceived from a sensor on the back of the pregnant subject to thestrength of a second signal received from a sensor on the front of thepregnant subject to determine the direction of the load. The controlelectrical circuitry 115 of the controller 110 can determine that theload is directed from the back side of the pregnant subject to the frontside of the pregnant subject when the first signal is stronger or viceversa. The control electrical circuitry 115 of the controller 110additionally or alternatively can compare the strength of a third signalfrom a sensor on the left side of the pregnant subject to the strengthof a fourth signal from a sensor on the right side of the pregnantsubject to determine or distinguish the direction of the load from leftside toward the right side of the pregnant subject or vice versa. Forexample, the control electrical circuitry 115 of the controller 110 candetermine that the third signal is stronger than the fourth signal andcan correlate the third and fourth signals to a load direction that isgenerally from the left side toward the right side of the pregnantsubject.

As described above, in some embodiments two or more of the sensors 120can be stacked in a manner that the control electrical circuitry 115 ofthe controller 110 can determine the direction of the load and/or candistinguish an internal source load (e.g., movements and/or kicking ofthe fetus) from an external source load (e.g., impact experienced by thepregnant subject). In an embodiment, the control electrical circuitry115 of the controller 110 can determine direction of the load and/ordistinguish internal from external loads by comparing signals receivedfrom multiple sensors positioned at different locations on the pregnantsubject. Additionally or alternatively, the control electrical circuitry115 of the controller 110 can determine direction of the load and/ordistinguish internal from external loads by comparing signals receivedfrom multiple sensors located at the same location and/or at multiplelocations on the pregnant subject but having different spatial positionsrelative to the outer surface of the skin of the pregnant subject. Forexample, the control electrical circuitry 115 of the controller 110 canreceive signals from one or more stacked sensor assemblies and candistinguish internal from external source load and/or can determinedirection of the load(s) based on such signals. Moreover, the controlelectrical circuitry 150 of the controller 110 can process signals froma stacked sensors assembly in a similar manner as described above, todetermine the direction of the load and/or to distinguish internal fromexternal source loads detected by the stack sensor assembly orassemblies.

In any event, in an embodiment, the controller 110 can receive input(e.g., at the I/O interface 130), such as signals from the sensors 120.Additionally or alternatively, the controller 110 can receive input(s)for one or more input devices, such as from an input device 107. Theinput device 107 can be and/or can include any number of suitable inputdevices. For example, the input device 107 can include one or more inputbuttons, such as a keyboard (e.g., a physical keyboard, a virtualkeyboard, such as a keyboard displayed on an output device, such as onoutput device 105, etc.). Additionally or alternatively, the inputdevice 107 can be and/or can include a microphone, a camera, etc.Moreover, in an embodiment, the controller 110 can receive informationfrom one or more other controllers and/or computers (e.g., from apersonal electronic device, such as a smart phone, a smart watch, etc.).Hence, for example, the input device 107 can be and/or can includeanother controller and/or computer.

FIG. 3 illustrates a stacked sensor assembly 170 according to anembodiment, which can be incorporated in any of the pregnancy monitoringsystems disclosed herein. In the illustrated embodiment, the stackedsensor assembly 170 includes sensors 120 c and 120 d positioned neareach other, such that, the sensor 120 c can be positioned closer to areference location on the pregnant subject than the sensor 120 d or viceversa. For example, the reference location can be an outer surface ofthe skin of the pregnant subject.

In an embodiment, the stacked sensor assembly 170 can be embedded inand/or attached to a backing 180. In particular, for example, thebacking 180 can secure the stacked sensor assembly 170 to the pregnantsubject. As described below in more detail, the backing 180 can beattached to or worn by the pregnant subject. For example, the backing180 can be attached and/or incorporated into a garment that can be wornby the pregnant subject. Additionally or alternatively, the backing 180can include an adhesive backing (e.g., pressure sensitive adhesive) andcan be temporarily attached or temporarily adhered directly to the skinof and/or garment worn by the pregnant subject.

Generally, the backing 180 can include any number of layers and/ormaterials or material combinations, which can vary from one embodimentto the next. In an embodiment, the backing 180 can include two sheets orlayers 181, 182 connected and/or bonded together, each of which canrespectively secure the sensors 120 c and 120 d. Alternatively, thesensors 120 c, 120 d can be positioned and/or embedded in a generallymonolithic material (e.g., in a thermoplastic material). Moreover, in anembodiment, the material securing the sensors 120 c, 120 d (e.g., thebacking 180) can be generally flexible. For example, when attached toskin of the pregnant patient, the material securing the sensors 120 c,120 d to the skin can flex, stretch, bend, or combinations thereof asthe skin of the pregnant subject flexes and/or bends, stretches, bends,etc.

In any event, the backing 180 can secure the stacked sensor assembly 170to the patient, such as by attaching to the skin of the patient, to theclothing of the patient, combinations thereof, etc. Hence, in anembodiment, the stacked sensor assembly 170 can detect or sense internaland/or external forces applied to the pregnant subject, which can betransmitted from the attaching medium (e.g., from the skin of thepregnant subject, from the garment worn by the pregnant subject, etc.).In any event, the stacked sensor assembly 170 can detect or sense theinternal and/or external source load(s) in a manner that facilitatesdistinguishing internal from external source loads at the controllerreceiving signals from the sensors of the stacked sensor assembly 170(e.g., from the sensors 120 c and 120 d), as described below in moredetail. Moreover, in an embodiment, the stacked sensor assembly 170 orarrays or arrangements of sensor assemblies can arranged and/orconfigured in a manner that facilitates determining the direction of theinternal and/or external source force(s) at the controller receivingsignals therefrom.

Generally, as described above, one or more sensors operably coupled tothe controller (e.g., to the control electrical circuitry of thecontroller) can generate one or more signals that can be related to theexternal source load applied to the pregnant subject. More specifically,in an embodiment, the control electrical circuitry of the controller candetermine and/or distinguish the external source load from one or moreother loads at least partially based on the signals received from thesensor(s) of the stacked sensor assembly 170 (e.g., in a similar manneras described above in connection with sensors positioned at differentrelative locations on the pregnant subject). For example, the controlelectrical circuitry of the controller can be configured to distinguishthe external source load(s) from the internal source load(s), such as todistinguish the external source loads from loads generated by thepregnant subject (e.g., during movement of the pregnant subject).

For example, sensors that are operably coupled to the controller caninclude a first sensor positionable at a first distance relative to anouter surface of the skin of the pregnant subject, and a second sensorcan be positionable at a second distance relative to the outer surfaceof the skin of the pregnant subject, which is greater than the firstdistance. As such, in an embodiment, the control electrical circuitry ofthe controller can be configured to distinguish the internal source loadfrom the external source load at least partially based on one or more ofa difference in time between the respective sensing signals receivedfrom the first sensor and from the second sensor. Additionally oralternatively, the control electrical circuitry of the controller candistinguish between the internal and external source loads based on thedifference in strength of the signals received from the first and secondsensors.

In an embodiment, at least one of the sensors of the stacked sensorassembly 170 can detect or sense force before at least one other sensorof the stacked sensor assembly 170. For example, the sensor 120 d can bepositioned closer to the skin of the pregnant subject than sensor 120 c(e.g., the layer 181 can be attachable to the skin and/or to the clothesof the pregnant subject). Responsive to external source force, forexample, the signal from the sensor 120 c can be received or detected bythe controller before the signal from the sensor 120 d.

In an embodiment, the sensors of the stacked sensor assembly 170, suchas the sensors 120 c, 120 d, can be positioned and/or spaced relative toeach other in a manner that attenuates and/or dampens the forcetransmitted from one sensor to another. In other words, for example, theforce vectored in a direction from a first sensor toward a second sensor(e.g., from the sensor 120 c to the sensor 120 d or vice versa) can beexperienced or sensed by the first sensor to a greater degree than bythe second sensor. For example, the stacked sensor assembly 170 caninclude material that can reduce the degree by which the second sensorexperiences or senses the force. For example, such material can bepositioned between the first and second sensors (e.g., between thesensors 120 c and 120 d). In an embodiment, a vibration dampening and/orsignal attenuating material 120 e can be positioned between the sensors120 c and 120 d (e.g., material that can reduce an amplitude of a sourceload vibration and/or reduce a temporal frequency of a source loadvibration). Alternatively or additionally, the backing 180 can includeor comprise the vibration dampening material and/or attenuating material(e.g., foam, gel, etc.). In any event, according to an embodiment, thematerial 120 e positioned between the sensors 120 c and 120 d can beconfigured to reduce amplitude of vibration(s) or oscillation(s)associated with a source load (e.g., a wave produced by the source loadand traveling in and/or through the stacked sensor assembly 170).

It should be appreciated that the stacked sensor assembly 170 caninclude any number of sensors (e.g., stacked and/or positioned generallyone over another, such as to place the sensors at different locationsoutward from the skin of the pregnant subject when the stacked sensorassembly 170 is secured or attached to the pregnant subject). Moreover,the stacked sensor assembly 170 can include any number of differenttypes of sensors, which can have any number of suitable relativearrangements as well as any number of arrangements relative to thepregnant subject. For example, the stacked sensor assembly 170 caninclude any number of accelerometers, strain sensors, micro-impulsesensors, ultrasound sensors (e.g., ultrasound transceiver(s)), heartbeatsensor(s), or combinations of the foregoing.

In some embodiments, an array or arrangement of sensors can beconfigured to determine direction of the internal and/or external sourceloads (e.g., as described above). Moreover, the sensors in thearrangement can be configured to detect and/or facilitate detection ordetermining relative positions of the sensors. FIG. 4A is a schematicdiagram of an embodiment of a sensor arrangement 190 that includessensors 120 e-120 h. The sensors 120 e-120 h can include any sensordescribed herein. It should be appreciated that the sensor arrangement190 can be an array of sensors (e.g., sensors arranged in a selectedand/or organized or ordered manner) and/or the sensors comprising thesensor arrangement can be randomly arranged relative to one another.

Generally, one, some, or each of the sensors 120 e-120 h can be operablycoupled to the controller 110, and the controller 110 can receive one ormore signals therefrom. As mentioned above, in an embodiment, one, some,or each of the sensors 120 e-120 h can emit an identification signal orping that can be detected by one or more of the other sensors in thesensor arrangement 190. For example, any of the sensors 120 e-120 h canbe configured to periodically emit a distinct identification signal orping (e.g., an electromagnetic or ultrasound pulse of a selected ordetermined frequency, a pulse generating a detectable vibration, such asvibration transferrable along the skin of the pregnant patient, etc.).In any event, in an embodiment, one, some, or each of the sensors 120e-120 h can emit or generate identification signal(s) that can bedetected by one or more other sensors in the sensor arrangement 190. Inan embodiment, the ping or identification signal can be a sound wave(e.g., a sound wave outside of the range that a typical human can hear,such as a sound wave below 20 Hz).

Additionally or alternatively, in an embodiment, the control electricalcircuitry of the controller 110 can operate or direct operation of anyof the sensors 120 e-120 h to generate identification signal(s) at oneor more selected times. Furthermore, in an embodiment, the controlelectrical circuitry of the controller 110 can determine and/ordistinguish a signal (e.g., an electrical signal) received from thesensors 120 e-120 h that was generated responsive to the sensing ordetecting one or more identification signals from any of the sensors 120e-120 h.

In an embodiment, the control electrical circuitry of the controller 110can determine relative positions and/or arrangement of the sensors 120e-120 h. For example, the control electrical circuitry of the controller110 can determine the distance between the sensors emitting theidentification signal and the sensor(s) detecting the identificationsignal by determining the time difference between the emission of theidentification signal and detection thereof. In an embodiment, thecontrol electrical circuitry of the controller 110 can determine thedistance at least partially based on the time difference betweenemission and detection of the identification signal and based on a known(e.g., stored in a memory and/or determined by the control electricalcircuitry of the controller 110) and/or constant factor related to aspeed of travel of the identification signal in one or more media (e.g.,air, skin, etc.) as detected by the detecting sensor.

Hence, in an embodiment, the control electrical circuitry of thecontroller 110 can determine the distances from a signaling sensor toother sensors of the sensor arrangement 190. Moreover, the electricalcircuitry of the controller 110 can iteratively and/or repeatedlydetermine distances from different signaling sensors and other sensors.For example, the control electrical circuitry of the controller 110 candirect the sensor 120 e to emit an identification signal that can bedetected by the sensors 120 f-120 h, and at least partially based on thesignals received from the sensors 120 f-120 h, the control electricalcircuitry of the controller 110 can determine the distance from thesensor 120 e to each of the respective ones of the sensors 120 f-120 h.Similarly, the control electrical circuitry of the controller 110 candirect the sensors 120 f to emit an identification signal and at leastpartially based on the signal received from the sensors 120 e, 120 g,120 h the control electrical circuitry of the controller 110 candetermine the distance from the sensor 120 f to each of the sensors 120e, 120 g, 120 h. By selecting different signaling sensors from thesensor arrangement 190 (e.g., such that only a single sensor emitsidentification signal at a time), the control electrical circuitry ofthe controller 110 can determine relative distances between the sensorsof the sensor arrangement 190. Moreover, at least partially based on thedetermined relative distances between the sensors of the sensorarrangement 190, the control electrical circuitry of the controller 110can determine relative positions thereof.

In an embodiment, the control electrical circuitry of the controller 110can determine the direction of a load (e.g., of the internal and/orexternal source load) at least partially by comparing the time ofreceiving a signal from the various sensors of the sensor arrangement190. For example, the control circuitry of the controller 110 caninclude or store information about relative positions of and/ordistances between the sensors of the sensor arrangement 190. Hence, inan embodiment, the control electrical circuitry of the controller 110can determine the direction of the load at least partially by comparingtimes at which signals from different sensors of the sensor arrangement190 are received by the control electrical circuitry of the controller110. Furthermore, as described above, the control electrical circuitryof the controller 110 can determine the direction of the load bycomparing the strength of the signals received from the sensors 120e-120 h that are positioned at different locations relative to oneanother and to the pregnant subject.

In an embodiment, the sensor array and/or arrangement can include one ormore stacked sensor assemblies. FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram of asensor arrangement 190 a that includes multiple stacked sensorassemblies, according to an embodiment. Except as described herein, thesensor arrangement 190 a and its elements and component can be similarto or the same as the sensor arrangement 190 (FIG. 4A) and itscorresponding elements and components.

In the illustrated embodiment, the sensor arrangement 190 a includesstacked sensor assemblies 170 a-170 d. For example, one, some, or eachof the stacked sensor assemblies 170 a-170 d can include at least onesensor configured to emit or generate a ping or an identificationsignal. Accordingly, the controller 110 can receive signals fromcorresponding sensors of the stacked sensor assemblies 170 a-170 d,which can detect identification signals and can determine relativedistances and/or positions of the stacked sensor assemblies 170 a-170 d,in a similar manner as described above in connection with FIG. 4A (e.g.,a signaling sensor that emits an identification sensor can be associatedand/or collocated with other sensors of a sensor stack assembly).Accordingly, for example, the control electrical circuitry of thecontroller 110 can determine or distinguish external source load(s) frominternal source load(s) and can determine a direction of the internaland external source load(s).

It should be appreciated that any of the stacked sensor assemblies inthe sensor arrangement 190 a (e.g., the stacked sensor assemblies 170a-170 d) can include and number of different types of sensors, which canvary from one embodiment to the next. Moreover, the sensor arrangement190 a can include any number of stacked sensor assemblies that can bepositioned in any number of suitable arrangements. Also, as describedabove, the sensors and/or sensor assemblies can be positioned about thepregnant subject (e.g., about the torso of the pregnant subject, theabdomen of the pregnant subject, about one or more limbs of the pregnantsubject, etc.) and can be attached directly to the skin of the pregnantsubject and/or attached to and/or embedded in a garment worn by thepregnant subject.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a pregnancy monitoring system 100a on the pregnant subject 10, according to an embodiment. The pregnancymonitoring system 100 a can include one or more load sensitive elements(e.g., the sensors 120 and/or sensor stack assemblies 170) that can beattached to the skin of the pregnant subject 10 directly and/or can beincorporated into a wearable garment, such as garment wearable garment200. In the illustrated embodiment, the pregnancy monitoring system 100a includes a sensor arrangement 190 b that can be included in or on(e.g., secured to and/or embedded in) one or more wearable elements,such as wearable garment 200.

Generally, the pregnancy monitoring system 100 a can include any numberof wearable elements that can be positioned on the pregnant subject 10at any number of suitable locations. In an embodiment, the wearablegarment 200 can be stretchable and/or elastic, such as to be positionedin contact with the skin of the pregnant subject 10. Alternatively oradditionally, wearable elements (e.g., the wearable garment 200) caninclude an adhesive (e.g., pressure sensitive adhesive) that can beconfigured to removably attach the wearable element(s) (together withthe sensors 120) to the pregnant subject 10. For example, the wearablegarment 200 can at least partially wrap about the abdomen of thepregnant subject 10.

As mentioned above, the sensor arrangement 190 b can include any numberof sensors 120 and/or stacked sensor assemblies 170, which can be of anynumber of different types and can be positioned and/or arranged at anynumber of suitable locations relative to the pregnant subject 10.Moreover, the sensors 120 and/or stacked sensor assemblies 170 can beoperably coupled to the controller 110. In an embodiment, the controller110 can be attached to or incorporated with the wearable garment 200.Alternatively, the controller 110 can be positioned outside of thewearable garment 200. Generally, the sensor arrangement 190 b caninclude any of the sensors 120 and/or stacked sensor assemblies 170described herein, which can detect the load and generate correspondingsignals (received at the controller 110), in a manner described herein.

In an embodiment, the controller 110 can include or can be operablycoupled (e.g., wired or wirelessly) to an output device, such as adisplay. More specifically, the display can be configured to displayoutput from the processing unit of the control electrical circuitry ofthe controller 110. Additionally or alternatively, the controller 110can be operably coupled (e.g., wired or wirelessly, such as over aBluetooth connection, over a wireless network, such as WiFi network,over the Internet, etc.) to one or more personal electronic devices,such as a personal electronic device 210, which can be and/or caninclude a smartphone, tablet, personal computer, etc., and can sendinformation and/or notifications to the controller 110. In anembodiment, the personal electronic device can include a display. Forexample, the personal electronic device 210 can receive and displayoutput from the controller 110.

As described above, the controller 110 can receive signals from thesensor arrangement 190 b and can distinguish internal source load fromexternal source load and/or can determine direction of the load at leastpartially based on the received signals. In an embodiment, the controlelectrical circuitry of the controller 110 can be configured to compareexternal source load to internal source load. For example, the controlelectrical circuitry of the controller 110 can compare the position orlocation of the external source load on the pregnant subject relative tothe position or location of the internal source load thereon.Alternatively or additionally, the control electrical circuitry of thecontroller 110 can compare the direction and/or magnitude of theexternal source load to the direction and/or magnitude of the internalsource load. In some embodiments the controller 110 can comparecharacteristics of an internal load measured at one time to those of anexternal load measured at a different time. For example, the controller110 can compare a current load measurement to stored measurementsacquired at an earlier time. In some embodiments, the controller 110 candetermine whether a measured load corresponds to an internal source oran external source by postulating an internal source location or anexternal source location and comparing characteristics of the loadingfrom the postulated source to the measured loading.

In an embodiment, at least partially based on the detected externalsource load and the signals generated by the sensors 120 of the sensorarrangement 190 b that detected the external source load, the controlelectrical circuitry of the controller 110 can determine that thepregnant subject 10 experienced an impact (e.g., an impact that is belowa threshold value or an impact at or above the threshold value).Moreover, the control electrical circuitry of the controller 110 cancorrelate the position and/or location of the load or impact on thepregnant subject 10 to a position or orientation of the fetus inside thepregnant subject 10 and/or to one or more parts thereof. For example,the controller 110 can correlate the location of the impact or externalsource load with the pregnant subject 10 (e.g., relative to the bodyparts and/or locations thereof of the pregnant subject 10) at leastpartially based on the determined direction of the external source load,which the controller can determine in a manner described herein. In someembodiments, the threshold value can be dependent on the proximity ofthe load location to the fetus or to a specified portion thereof. Forexample, an alert threshold for a load applied near the head of a fetuscan be set to a lower value than the alert threshold for loads not nearthe fetus, or near a leg of the fetus.

For example, the control electrical circuitry of the controller 110 canbe configured to determine a force imparted on at least one portion ofthe fetus. Additionally or alternatively, the control electricalcircuitry of the controller 110 can be configured to determine proximitybetween a position of the external source load applied to the pregnantsubject 10 and a position of a portion of the fetus or a portion of thefetus. For example, the control electrical circuitry of the controllercan be configured to determine a distance between an impact on thepregnant subject 10 from an external force and a portion of the fetus,such as a limb and/or torso of the fetus.

Moreover, the control electrical circuitry of the controller 110 candetermine a force imparted on the fetus and/or one or more portionsthereof, at least partially based on one or more signals received fromthe sensor(s) 120 and/or based on input related to internal sourceload(s) applied to the pregnant subject 10. For example, the pregnantsubject 10 can enter into the controller 110 the position and/ororientation of the fetus, which can be associated with a sensed ordetected external source load or impact (e.g., when the external sourceload exceeds a threshold value). Hence, for example, the controlelectrical circuitry of the controller 110 can determine the impactapplied to the fetus from the external source load at least partiallybased on the input received from the pregnant subject 10 and/or on theinput or signals received from the sensor(s).

In an embodiment, signal(s) from one or more sensors 120 can be relatedto the position and/or orientation of the fetus inside the pregnantsubject 10. Alternatively or additionally, the control electricalcircuitry can determine or estimate position and/or orientation of thefetus inside the pregnant subject 10 based on the internal source forcesdetected or sensed by one or more sensors 120. For example, the controlelectrical circuitry of the controller 110 can associate sensed ordetected internal source load with kicks of the fetus and can determinecorresponding position(s) of the fetus. In an embodiment, the controlelectrical circuitry of the controller 110 can be configured tosubstantially continuously determine the position of the fetus, motionof the fetus, orientation of the fetus, or combinations thereof (e.g.,relative to the pregnant subject 10). Furthermore the control electricalcircuitry of the controller 110 can store data in memory that is relatedto the determined the position of the fetus, motion of the fetus,orientation of the fetus, or combinations thereof.

Generally, the controller 110 can receive inputs from any number ofsuitable input devices (e.g., the controller 110 can receive input fromvarious sensors in the form of one or more signals). Furthermore, in anembodiment, a user (e.g., the pregnant subject 10) can enter informationor input into the controller 110 (e.g., the control electrical circuitryof the controller can receive information or input from the user), suchas information that can be related to the position of the fetus in thepregnant subject 10, the orientation of the fetus in the pregnantsubject, motion of the fetus in the pregnant subject, or combinationsthereof. For example, the control electrical circuitry of the controller110 can include and/or can be operably coupled to an input device (e.g.,a keyboard or a virtual keyboard, such as a keyboard that can bedisplayed on a touch screen display that can receive input from a user,microphone, etc.). Moreover, in an embodiment, the input can be enteredat a personal electronic device of the user, such as at the personalelectronic device 210, and can be sent thereby to the controller 110(which can be operably coupled thereto).

In an embodiment, the control electrical circuitry of the controller 110also can compare information on the position and/or orientation of thefetus received from a user with the position and/or orientation of thefetus determined by the control electrical circuitry of the controller110 based on one or more signals received from the sensor(s) sensors120. For example, the pregnant subject 10 can enter information or inputthat is related to internal source load applied to the pregnant subject(e.g., the load(s) applied to the pregnant subject 10 due to movement(s)or motion of the fetus). In an embodiment, at least partially based onthe entered or input position and/or orientation of the fetus (receivedfrom a user), the control electrical circuitry of the controller 110 cancalibrate and/or adjust determinations of the position and/ororientation of the fetus that is determined from one or more signalsfrom the sensor(s) sensors 120. For example, the control electricalcircuitry of the controller 110 can be configured to calibrate at leastsome of the sensors 120 (that are operably coupled thereto) at leastpartially based on the comparison of the information received from theuser with the internal source load determined at least partially basedon the signal(s) received from the sensor(s) sensors 120.

Similarly, the control electrical circuitry of the controller 110 canreceive input or information from a user (e.g., from the pregnantsubject 10), which can be related to external source load(s). In anembodiment, the control electrical circuitry of the controller 110 canbe configured to compare the received information that is related to theexternal source load (e.g., location of an impact, direction of theload, etc. received from the pregnant subject) to the external sourceload that is determined at least partially based on the one or moresignals received from the one or more sensors 120. For example, thecontrol electrical circuitry of the controller 110 can calibrate atleast some of the one or more sensors 120 at least partially based onthe comparison of the received information (e.g., from the pregnantsubject 10) to the external source load to the external source load thatis determined at least partially based on the signal(s) received fromthe sensor(s) sensors 120.

In an embodiment, the controller 110 can determine and output arecommendation at least partially based on and/or related to thesignal(s) received from the sensors 120 and/or from input received froma user (e.g., from the pregnant subject 10). For example, the controller110 can include and/or reference a lookup table, an index, a database,combinations thereof, and the like. In an embodiment, the database or asimilar structure can include and/or relate input received from thesensors 120 and/or from the user to values and/or recommendationsassociated with the input. Hence, the controller 110 can output one ormore recommendations that can be related to the internal and/or externalsource loads.

In an embodiment, the controller 110 can be configured to output and/ordisplay one or more recommendations that can be related to health of thepregnant subject 10 and/or to the health of the fetus in the pregnantsubject 10. For example, the controller 110 can generate and/or outputan alert that can be configured to notify a user (e.g., the pregnantsubject 10) about a condition and/or event related to the health of thefetus. In an embodiment, the controller 110 can generate an alert whenthe internal source load and/or the external source load exceed athreshold value. For example, the an impact applied to the pregnantsubject 10 can be detected as an external source load that exceeds athreshold value for impacts, and the controller 110 can generate analert informing the pregnant subject 10 of the same and/or informing thepregnant subject 10 to seek medical attention. The controller 110 canalso detect reduction or diminishment in activity of the fetus insidethe pregnant subject 10 as reduction in or diminishment of internalsource loads, heartbeat rate, etc., detected by the sensors 120 and canalert the pregnant subject 10 of the same and/or inform the pregnantsubject 10 to seek medical attention. Moreover, as described above, theoutput from the controller 110 can be displayed to the pregnant subject10 on the display coupled to and/or integrated with the controller 110and/or on the display of the electronic device (e.g., the controller 110can push alerts to a selected smart phone, can text alerts, can emailalerts, etc.).

In an embodiment, the pregnancy monitoring system 100 a can generate avisual or tactile alert that can be sensed by the pregnant subject 10(e.g., the alert can indicate a recommendation for the pregnant subjectto seek medical attention). For example, the load-sensitive elements ofthe pregnancy monitoring system 100 a can include one or more dyecapsules that can be configured to release a visible dye responsive todetecting internal and/or external source loads exceeding a thresholdload. Additionally or alternatively, the load-sensitive elements of thepregnancy monitoring system 100 a can include one or more capsules orelements configured to generate a tactile vibration that can be felt bythe pregnant subject 10, responsive to detecting internal and/orexternal source loads exceeding a threshold load.

As described above, the pregnancy monitoring system can monitor motionof the pregnant subject and/or of the fetus inside the pregnant subject.For example, the pregnancy monitoring system can monitor and/ordetermine the total amount of motion exhibited by the pregnant subjectand/or by the fetus over a selected period of time. Additionally oralternatively, the pregnancy monitoring system can monitor and/or detectthe type of motion exhibited by the pregnant subject and/or by the fetusinside the pregnant subject. In an embodiment, the pregnancy monitoringsystem can store at least some of the data related to the monitoredactivities of the pregnant subject and/or of the fetus.

Moreover, in an embodiment, the pregnancy monitoring system can alert auser (e.g., the pregnant subject, a medical professional, etc.) afterdetecting motion that is outside of a selected range and/or above athreshold value. For example, the pregnancy monitoring system can alertthe user when the amount of detected motion of the pregnant subjectand/or of the fetus (e.g., a total amount over a period of time, anaverage amount of motion, which can be determined over a period of timeand/or can be continuously updated) falls below a threshold value and/orexceeds a threshold value. In an embodiment, the pregnancy monitoringsystem can alert the pregnant subject to increase or reduce motion viaone or more output devices (e.g., displays, speakers etc.). For example,the alert generated by the control electrical circuitry of thecontroller can notify the pregnant subject to start or stop motion.Moreover, the controller of the pregnancy monitoring system can beoperably coupled to a personal electronic device and can send alertsthereto; the personal electronic device can display the received alertinformation to the pregnant subject.

In an embodiment, the control electrical circuitry of the controller cancorrelate the motion of the pregnant subject with the motion of thefetus. For example, the control electrical circuitry of the controllercan determine a change in the motion of the fetus (e.g., increase ordecrease in the motion of the fetus) and can correlate the change of themotion of the fetus with a change in the motion of the pregnant subject(e.g., increase or decrease in the motion of the pregnant subject).Moreover, the control electrical circuitry of the controller candetermine a time difference or delay between the change in the motion ofthe pregnant subject and the change in the motion of the fetus. Hence,for example, the control electrical circuitry of the controller canrecommend to or generate an alert for the pregnant subject to increaseor decrease motion by a suitable amount that can be targeted to producea suitable amount of motion of the fetus (e.g., as may be recommended bya health care provider). In some embodiments, such recommendationsand/or alerts can be dependent upon a size, position, or orientation ofthe fetus. For example, motion of the pregnant subject when the fetus isoriented head-up may be more or less preferred than motion when thefetus is oriented head-down.

As described above, the control electrical circuitry of the controllercan include a storage that can be configured to store various data. Forexample, the storage of the control electrical circuitry of thecontroller can be configured to store data related to the motion of thepregnant subject and/or of the fetus in the pregnant subject.Additionally or alternatively, the storage can be configured to storedata that is generated at least partially from the control electricalcircuitry of the controller by correlating the motion of the pregnantsubject with the motion of the fetus. Moreover, generally, the controlelectrical circuitry of the controller can be configured to store anydata generated herein by the sensors and/or the controller includingdata that can be generated at least partially from comparison ofinternal source load to external source load or an impact event with thepregnant subject. For example, the control electrical circuitry of thecontroller is configured to compare data that is related to one or moreof the motion of the fetus or the motion of the pregnant subject, andwhich is stored before the impact event, to the data that is related toone or more of the motion of the fetus or the motion of the pregnantsubject, and which is stored after the impact event. As another example,the controller is configured to generate an alert at least partiallybased on the comparison of the data that is related to one or more ofthe motion of the fetus or the motion of the pregnant subject, and whichis stored before the impact event, to the data that is related to one ormore of the motion of the fetus or the motion of the pregnant subject,and which is stored after the impact event.

As mentioned above, the control electrical circuitry of the controllercan be configured to compare data related to the motion of the fetusand/or to the motion of the pregnant subject before and after an impact.For example, the data related to the motion of the fetus and/or to themotion of the pregnant subject. Accordingly, in an embodiment, thecontroller can compare stored data (e.g., data that was stored before adetected load that exceeded a threshold value), which is related to themotion of the fetus and/or of the pregnant subject, to the motiondetermined and/or stored after the detection of the load that exceededthe threshold value.

Furthermore, the control electrical circuitry of the controller can beconfigured to generate and/or output an alert when a determined changein the motion of the pregnant subject and/or of the fetus (or thedetermined motion of the fetus and/or of the pregnant subject afterdetection of a selected load) is deferent from the motion before thedetected load by a select amount or percentage. For example, if themotion of the fetus after an impact is less than before the impact by aselected amount or percentage, as determined by the control electricalcircuitry of the controller, an alert and/or recommendation can begenerated and/or output (e.g., displayed) by the control electricalcircuitry of the controller, such as to alert the pregnant subject toseek medical attention. Moreover, in an embodiment, the controlelectrical circuitry of the controller can generate and/or output ordisplay an alert or recommendation when the motion of the fetus isdetermined to be below or exceeding a threshold value (e.g., wheninternal source load(s) are determined to be below or exceeding athreshold value).

As described above, the pregnancy monitoring system 100 a can includeany number of different types of sensors. In an embodiment, the sensorsproviding load related signals to the controller 110 can be differenttypes of sensors than the sensor providing motion related signals. Forexample, the controller 110 of the pregnancy monitoring system 100 a canreceive and/or correlate signals received from accelerometer(s) or othermotion sensing sensor with motion; and the controller 110 also canreceive and/or correlate signals received from strain gage(s) or otherload-sensitive sensor with internal and/or external source load(s)experience by the pregnant subject 10 and/or by the fetus.

It should be appreciated that pregnancy monitoring system 100 a caninclude any embodiment described above in combination with another otherembodiments described above.

It should be appreciated that the above teachings, concepts, or aspectsfrom the pregnancy monitoring system 100 a can be incorporated with anyembodiment described above or the pregnancy monitoring system 100 a caninclude any embodiment described above in combination with another otherembodiments described above. For example, any of the variousfunctionalities or determinations performed by the controller 110 in thepregnancy monitoring system 100 a may be performed by the controller ofany of the embodiments disclosed herein. As another example, the controlelectrical circuitry of the controller 110 can be configured todetermine the direction of the internal and/or external source loads andcan be further configured to detect and/or monitor motion of thepregnant subject 10 and/or of the fetus. Moreover, the controller 110can generate and/or display any output or combinations thereof, asdescribed herein. For example, the controller 110 can generate and/ordisplay output related to the internal and/or external source loads andoutput related to the motion of the pregnant subject 10 and/or of thefetus.

The reader will recognize that the state of the art has progressed tothe point where there is little distinction left between hardware andsoftware implementations of aspects of systems; the use of hardware orsoftware is generally (but not always, in that in certain contexts thechoice between hardware and software can become significant) a designchoice representing cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs. The reader willappreciate that there are various vehicles by which processes and/orsystems and/or other technologies described herein can be effected(e.g., hardware, software, and/or firmware), and that the preferredvehicle will vary with the context in which the processes and/or systemsand/or other technologies are deployed. For example, if an implementerdetermines that speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer mayopt for a mainly hardware and/or firmware vehicle; alternatively, ifflexibility is paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly softwareimplementation; or, yet again alternatively, the implementer may opt forsome combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Hence, thereare several possible vehicles by which the processes and/or devicesand/or other technologies described herein may be effected, none ofwhich is inherently superior to the other in that any vehicle to beutilized is a choice dependent upon the context in which the vehiclewill be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, orpredictability) of the implementer, any of which may vary. The readerwill recognize that optical aspects of implementations will typicallyemploy optically-oriented hardware, software, and or firmware.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beunderstood by those within the art that each function and/or operationwithin such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In an embodiment,several portions of the subject matter described herein may beimplemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), FieldProgrammable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), orother integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art willrecognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, inwhole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integratedcircuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or morecomputers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computersystems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors(e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors),as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designingthe circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmwarewould be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light ofthis disclosure. In addition, the reader will appreciate that themechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capable of beingdistributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that anillustrative embodiment of the subject matter described herein appliesregardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium used toactually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearing mediuminclude, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable type mediumsuch as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), a DigitalVideo Disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer memory, etc.; and atransmission type medium such as a digital and/or an analogcommunication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wiredcommunications link, a wireless communication link, etc.).

In a general sense, the various embodiments described herein can beimplemented, individually and/or collectively, by various types ofelectro-mechanical systems having a wide range of electrical componentssuch as hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combinationthereof; and a wide range of components that may impart mechanical forceor motion such as rigid bodies, spring or torsional bodies, hydraulics,and electro-magnetically actuated devices, or virtually any combinationthereof. Consequently, as used herein “electro-mechanical system”includes, but is not limited to, electrical circuitry operably coupledwith a transducer (e.g., an actuator, a motor, a piezoelectric crystal,etc.), electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electricalcircuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit,electrical circuitry having at least one application specific integratedcircuit, electrical circuitry forming a general purpose computing deviceconfigured by a computer program (e.g., a general purpose computerconfigured by a computer program which at least partially carries outprocesses and/or devices described herein, or a microprocessorconfigured by a computer program which at least partially carries outprocesses and/or devices described herein), electrical circuitry forminga memory device (e.g., forms of random access memory), electricalcircuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem, communicationsswitch, or optical-electrical equipment), and any non-electrical analogthereto, such as optical or other analogs. Those skilled in the art willalso appreciate that examples of electro-mechanical systems include butare not limited to a variety of consumer electronics systems, as well asother systems such as motorized transport systems, factory automationsystems, security systems, and communication/computing systems. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize that electro-mechanical as used hereinis not necessarily limited to a system that has both electrical andmechanical actuation except as context may dictate otherwise.

In a general sense, the various aspects described herein which can beimplemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range ofhardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof can be viewedas being composed of various types of “electrical circuitry.”Consequently, as used herein “electrical circuitry” includes, but is notlimited to, electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electricalcircuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit,electrical circuitry having at least one application specific integratedcircuit, electrical circuitry forming a general purpose computing deviceconfigured by a computer program (e.g., a general purpose computerconfigured by a computer program which at least partially carries outprocesses and/or devices described herein, or a microprocessorconfigured by a computer program which at least partially carries outprocesses and/or devices described herein), electrical circuitry forminga memory device (e.g., forms of random access memory), and/or electricalcircuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem, communicationsswitch, or optical-electrical equipment). The subject matter describedherein may be implemented in an analog or digital fashion or somecombination thereof.

Additionally, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in theart, principles of the present disclosure, including components, may bereflected in a computer program product on a computer-readable storagemedium having computer-readable program code means embodied in thestorage medium. Any tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium may be utilized, including magnetic storage devices (hard disks,floppy disks, and the like), optical storage devices (CD-ROMs, DVDs,Blu-ray discs, and the like), flash memory, and/or the like. Thesecomputer program instructions may be loaded onto a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructionsthat execute on the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus create a means for implementing the functions specified. Thesecomputer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readablememory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processingapparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructionsstored in the computer-readable memory produce an article ofmanufacture, including implementing means that implement the functionspecified. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause aseries of operational steps to be performed on the computer or otherprogrammable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process, suchthat the instructions that execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified.

In an embodiment, a pregnancy monitoring system disclosed herein can beintegrated in such a manner that the pregnancy monitoring operates as aunique system configured specifically for the function of determiningthe external source loads, internal source loads, motion of the pregnantsubject, motion of the fetus inside the pregnant subject, output relatedto the foregoing, combinations thereof, and the like, and any associatedcomputing devices of the pregnancy monitoring system operate as specificuse computers for purposes of the claimed system, and not general usecomputers. In an embodiment, at least one associated computing device ofthe pregnancy monitoring system operates as a specific use computer forpurposes of the claimed system, and not general use computers. In anembodiment, at least one of the associated computing devices of thepregnancy monitoring system is hardwired with a specific ROM to instructthe at least one computing device. In an embodiment, one of ordinaryskill in the art recognizes that the pregnancy monitoring system effectsan improvement at least in the technological field of pregnancymonitoring systems.

The herein described components (e.g., steps), devices, and objects andthe discussion accompanying them are used as examples for the sake ofconceptual clarity. Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplarsset forth and the accompanying discussion are intended to berepresentative of their more general classes. In general, use of anyspecific exemplar herein is also intended to be representative of itsclass, and the non-inclusion of such specific components (e.g., steps),devices, and objects herein should not be taken as indicating thatlimitation is desired.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, the reader can translate from the plural to the singularand/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the contextand/or application. The various singular/plural permutations are notexpressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates differentcomponents contained within, or connected with, different othercomponents. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures aremerely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can beimplemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense,any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality iseffectively “associated” such that the desired functionality isachieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve aparticular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each othersuch that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components soassociated can also be viewed as being “operably connected,” or“operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality,and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewedas being “operably couplable,” to each other to achieve the desiredfunctionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but arenot limited to physically mateable and/or physically interactingcomponents and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interactingcomponents and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactablecomponents.

In some instances, one or more components may be referred to herein as“configured to.” The reader will recognize that “configured to” cangenerally encompass active-state components and/or inactive-statecomponents and/or standby-state components, unless context requiresotherwise.

While particular aspects of the present subject matter described hereinhave been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modificationsmay be made without departing from the subject matter described hereinand its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are toencompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as arewithin the true spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein.Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is defined by theappended claims. In general, terms used herein, and especially in theappended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generallyintended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should beinterpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” shouldbe interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should beinterpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will befurther understood by those within the art that if a specific number ofan introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will beexplicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitationno such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, thefollowing appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases“at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations.However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply thatthe introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or“an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claimrecitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even whenthe same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “atleast one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or“an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one ormore”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used tointroduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number ofan introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in generalsuch a construction is intended in the sense the convention (e.g., “asystem having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not belimited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and Btogether, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and Ctogether, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “atleast one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a constructionis intended in the sense the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that haveA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). Virtually any disjunctiveword and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether inthe description, claims, or drawings, should be understood tocontemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either ofthe terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will beunderstood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

With respect to the appended claims, the recited operations therein maygenerally be performed in any order. Examples of such alternateorderings may include overlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered,incremental, preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous, reverse, or othervariant orderings, unless context dictates otherwise. With respect tocontext, even terms like “responsive to,” “related to,” or otherpast-tense adjectives are generally not intended to exclude suchvariants, unless context dictates otherwise.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, thevarious aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes ofillustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scopeand spirit being indicated by the following claims.

What is claimed is: 1-40. (canceled)
 41. A system for monitoring apregnant subject, the system comprising: one or more sensors configuredto generate one or more signals related to, an internal source loadapplied to the pregnant subject; and motion of the pregnant subject; anda controller including control electrical circuitry operably coupled tothe one or more sensors and configured to receive the one or moresignals therefrom, the control electrical circuitry configured to,distinguish the motion of the pregnant subject from the internal sourceload based at least partially on the one or more signals received fromthe one or more sensors; and generate an output related to one or moreof the internal source load or the motion of the pregnant subject. 42.The system of claim 41, wherein based at least partially on the one ormore signals related to the internal source load, the control electricalcircuitry of the controller is configured to generate informationrelated to one or more of a position of a fetus in the pregnant subject,a motion of the fetus, or an orientation of the fetus.
 43. The system ofclaim 42, wherein based at least partially on the one or more signalsrelated to the internal source load, the control electrical circuitry ofthe controller is configured to generate information related to kicks ofthe fetus.
 44. The system of claim 42, wherein the control electricalcircuitry of the controller is configured to correlate the motion of thepregnant subject with the motion of the fetus in the pregnant subject.45. The system of claim 42, wherein the output includes one or morerecommendations related to one or more of a health of the pregnantsubject or a health of the fetus in the pregnant subject.
 46. The systemof claim 42, wherein the controller includes memory configured to storedata related to the motion of the fetus in the pregnant subject andstore data related to the motion of the pregnant subject.
 47. The systemof claim 46, wherein the controller is configured to generate an alertat least partially based on a comparison of the data that is related toone or more of the motion of the fetus or the motion of the pregnantsubject, and which is stored at a first time point, to the data that isrelated to one or more of the motion of the fetus or the motion of thepregnant subject, and which is stored at a second time point.
 48. Thesystem of claim 41, further including a personal electronic devicehaving a display, wherein the controller is configured to display theoutput from the controller on the display of the personal electronicdevice.
 49. The system of claim 48, wherein the personal electronicdevice is configured to display one or more recommendations related toone or more of a health of the pregnant subject or a health of a fetusin the pregnant subject, the one or more recommendations based at leastpartially on the output from the controller received at the personalelectronic device.
 50. The system of claim 41, wherein the controller isconfigured to generate an alert when the internal load source is belowor exceeds a threshold load.
 51. The system of claim 41, wherein the oneor more sensors include at least one motion sensor configured to sensethe motion of the pregnant subject and at least one load-sensitivesensor configured to sense the internal source load.
 52. The system ofclaim 41, further including one or more load-sensitive elementsconfigured to generate an indication that the internal source loadexceeds a threshold load.
 53. A wearable system for monitoring apregnant subject, the wearable system comprising: one or more wearableelements sized and configured to be worn by the pregnant subject; one ormore sensors configured to generate one or more signals related to atleast an internal source load applied to the pregnant subject and tomotion of the pregnant subject, at least one of the one or more sensorscarried by the one or more wearable elements; and a controller includingcontrol electrical circuitry operably coupled to the one or more sensorsand configured to receive the one or more signals therefrom, the controlelectrical circuitry configured to distinguish the motion of thepregnant subject from the internal source load based at least partiallyon the one or more signals received from the one or more sensors and togenerate an output related to one or more of the internal source load orthe motion of the pregnant subject.
 54. The wearable system of claim 53,wherein based at least partially on the one or more signals related tothe internal source load, the control electrical circuitry of thecontroller is configured to generate information related to one or moreof a position of a fetus in the pregnant subject, a motion of the fetus,or an orientation of the fetus.
 55. The wearable system of claim 54,wherein the control electrical circuitry of the controller is configuredto correlate the motion of the pregnant subject with the motion of thefetus in the pregnant subject.
 56. The wearable system of claim 54,wherein the output includes one or more recommendations related to oneor more of a health of the pregnant subject or a health of the fetus inthe pregnant subject.
 57. The wearable system of claim 54, wherein thecontroller includes memory configured to store data related to themotion of the pregnant subject and to store data related to the motionof the fetus in the pregnant subject that is generated at leastpartially from the control electrical circuitry correlating the motionof the pregnant subject with the motion of the fetus.
 58. The wearablesystem of claim 57, wherein the control electrical circuitry of thecontroller is configured to compare data that is related to one or moreof the motion of the fetus or the motion of the pregnant subject, andwhich is stored at a first time point, to the data that is related toone or more of the motion of the fetus or the motion of the pregnantsubject, and which is stored at a second time point.
 59. The wearablesystem of claim 58, wherein the controller is configured to generate analert at least partially based on the comparison of the data that isrelated to one or more of the motion of the fetus or the motion of thepregnant subject, and which is stored at the first time point, to thedata that is related to one or more of the motion of the fetus or themotion of the pregnant subject, and which is stored at the second timepoint.
 60. The wearable system of claim 53, further including a personalelectronic device having a display, wherein the controller is configuredto display the output from the controller on the display of the personalelectronic device.
 61. The wearable system of claim 60, wherein theelectronic device is configured to display one or more recommendationsrelated to one or more of a health of the pregnant subject or a healthof a fetus in the pregnant subject, the one or more recommendationsbeing based at least partially on the output from the controllerreceived at the personal electronic device.
 62. The wearable system ofclaim 53, wherein the controller is configured to generate an alert whenthe internal source load is below or exceeds a threshold load.
 63. Thewearable system of claim 53, further including one or moreload-sensitive elements configured to generate an indication that theinternal source load is below a threshold load.
 64. A method ofmonitoring a pregnant subject, the method comprising: at a controller,receiving one or more signals from one or more sensors related to aninternal source load applied to the pregnant subject and to motion ofthe pregnant subject, wherein the internal source load includes one ormore forces resulting from motion of a fetus in the pregnant subject; atthe controller, determining a position of the fetus, the motion of thefetus, orientation of the fetus, or a combination thereof based at leastpartially on the one or more signals received from the one or moresensors at the controller, correlating an amount of the motion of thepregnant subject with an amount of the motion of the fetus in thepregnant subject based at least partially on the one or more signalsreceived from the one or more sensors; and generating an outputincluding information related to one or more of the position of thefetus in the pregnant subject, the motion of the fetus, or theorientation of the fetus.
 65. The method of claim 64, further includingcorrelating the amount of the motion of the fetus in the pregnantsubject with the amount of the motion of the pregnant subject andgenerating an output related to the correlated amount of the motion ofthe fetus and the amount of the motion of the pregnant subject.
 66. Themethod of claim 64, further including storing data related to the amountof the motion of the fetus in the pregnant subject, which is at leastpartially based on the internal source load.
 67. The method of claim 66,further including comparing data that is related to one or more of themotion of the fetus or the motion of the pregnant subject, and which isstored at a first time point, to the data that is related to one or moreof the motion of the fetus or the motion of the pregnant subject, andwhich is stored at a second time point.
 68. The method of claim 67,further including generating an alert at least partially based on thecomparison of the data that is related to one or more of the motion ofthe fetus or the motion of the pregnant subject, and which is stored atthe first time point, to the data that is related to one or more of themotion of the fetus or the motion of the pregnant subject, and which isstored at the second time point.